Bacterial Therapeutics might be treatment for HIV

Osel, a bacterial therapeutics company based in Santa Clara, CA, have bioengineered a new bacterium, that naturally occurs in the vaginal tract of a healthy woman, that will help deliver potent HIV blocking drug. The scientists of Osel used a MucoCept platform and adhere Lactobacillus to it. This lactobacillus, which as aforementioned thrives in a woman's vaginal tract, was genetically programmed to produce enough cyanovirin-N, an inhibitor of HIV, to block HIV infection. I find this case quit interesitng because we have an ever pressing rise of cases of HIV and AIDS and we need to move closer to a cure. I especially enjoyed the fact that they are manipulating already commonly occuring bacteria in the body to find a treatment so that risk of rejection or side-effects are reduced.





http://www.genengnews.com/gen-articles/bioengineering-bacteria-for-drug-delivery/2011/